THE AMAZING adventures of a young French woman, a tiny girl who lives under the floorboards, the lives of three young street dancers in Germany, and making sculptures from other people’s rubbish - it is all in this year’s Junior Galway Film Fleadh.
The 17th Junior Galway Film Fleadh returns from Wednesday November 17 to Saturday 19 with a host of films, documentaries, animations, and events, aimed at those aged from four to 18, taking place in the Town Hall Theatre, NUI Galway’s Huston School of Film and Digital Media, and the Galway City Museum.
The highlights
In recent years comic books and cinema have become increasingly intertwined, with blockbusters such as X-Men, Spiderman, Iron Man, and Thor all making the transition from page to screen.
French film-maker Luc Besson has followed suit with his thrilling adaptation of Jacques Tardi’s classic French comic-series The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2011 ).
The film, which has been described as “Amelie meets Indiana Jones”, features a young reporter who travels to Egypt in search of mummies and treasure and who must also tackle the mystery of a mysterious flock of birds threatening Paris. See it in the Town Hall on Wednesday 16 at 10.15am.
Manga fans can look forward to Japanese animation Arrietty in the Town Hall on Wednesday 16 at 12.30pm. Adapted from Mary Norton’s The Borrowers, the film tells the story of a tiny girl who lives under the floor of an old house and who begins an unlikely friendship with a human boy. This will be the only Galway screening of the film, so don’t miss it.
One of the main documentaries this year is German feature Neukölln Unlimited, which tells the story of Lial, Hassan, and Maradon - three talented street dancers and musicians who live in Berlin and their struggles to pursue their art under the constant threat of deportation back to Lebanon. See it in the Town Hall on Thursday 17 at 10.30am.
Music also plays a part in Irish film, Ballymun Lullaby, about music teacher Ron Cooney who has worked with young people in Ireland’s only high-rise housing estate, using music to give voice to their stories. See it in the Town Hall on Thursday 17 at 12.30pm.
In Brazilian film Waste Land, in the Town Hall on Thursday 17 at 2pm, artist Vik Muniz travels from Brooklyn to his native Brazil where, on the outskirts of Rio De Janeiro, lies the world’s largest rubbish dump. Collaborating with a group of catadores (collectors of recyclables ) Muniz helps them create stunning photographic images of themselves out of garbage, allowing them to re-imagine their lives.
The Short Films section will highlight budding filmmaking from schools and local groups. Alongside these runs Gearrscannáin, a series of thought-provoking shorts which take Irish beyond the classroom.
Workshops
Each year the Fleadh offers a range of high quality workshops which aim to stimulate creativity and imagination. Workshops are given by professionals in their fields keen to pass on their expertise to young people.
Ros na Run’s Linda Bhreathnach will facilitate the Acting for The Screen Workshop on Wednesday 16 in the Town Hall from 10.30am to 1pm. The class will involve warm up exercises, role playing, and devising scenes. This is an ideal workshop for those taking part in their school play or for a Transition Year group. Places are limited and you must be 13+ to take part.
Edith Pieperhoff will facilitate the Stop Motion Animation Workshop on Saturday 19 in the Town Hall Theatre for those aged nine plus, from 10.30am to 1pm. Participants will be introduced to the art of animation and they will learn to create their own super hero or villain and direct a short sketch of their own creation. Materials will be provided.
Those interested in radio broadcasting should look at the iradio workshop on Saturday 19 from 2pm to 3.30pm at Flirt FM in NUIG where iradio’s Dave O’Connor, iwake up show, will develop participants presentation skills, co-presenting, and newsreading. Places are limited and you must be aged 16 + to take part.
Ever wondered how comic books and novels become films? The Fleadh’s From Page to Screen Discussion will give you the inside track. It takes place on Saturday 19 in the Huston Film School, from 12 noon to 1pm, and will look at the Harry Potter series, Twilight, and Arrietty.
There will be a Manga Comic Book Workshop at Galway City Museum on Saturday 19 from 2.15pm to 4.15pm. Limited places. Age 13+ .
This year, in association with Fresh Film Festival, the Fleadh will host the HotHouse Short Film Panel on Saturday 19 in the Town Hall Theatre Studio, from 1pm to 1.45pm. Fresh Film Festival winners will share their insight and experiences and offer tips and advice to budding film makers. Ages 14 - 18.
The Hamlet Workshop, for Leaving Cert students, on Friday 18 in the Town Hall, from 10am to 11.30am, will examine the main themes of Hamlet via clips from various film versions of Shakespeare’s play.
Individuals, groups, or schools wishing to book for any of the films or workshops should contact 091 - 562200, email [email protected], or download a booking form from www.galwayfilmfleadh.com See Facebook for regular updates and competitions.
